Development of a conceptual model towards an innovative solution for marine energy decision-making

The key topic of research in this thesis is one of governance challenges with respect to marine energy. Marine energy (ME) refers to forms of hydrocarbons and renewable energy, including wind, wave and tidal energy that are extracted from marine resources. Increasingly, Marine Renewable Energy (MRE), namely from offshore wind, wave and tidal energy, is viewed as an opportunity to meet climate change obligations, with the added benefit of powering the economy and the creation of jobs. The marine energy sector faces a range of challenges including technological, and importantly, governance challenges. Large-scale energy infrastructure projects reveal a complex array of governance issues to be reconciled, including a failure to meet the expectations of the public affected by development. This focuses attention on the need to understand the governance framework, especially in order to facilitate the transition to a carbon neutral economy. To date, some limited research has been undertaken on linear governance dimensions related to sectoral aspects of marine energy exploration. Even less research has been undertaken on integrating governance dimensions, from the broad perspectives of policy and regulation, industry development and civil society. The research objective was to develop a conceptual model that describes the different components of ME governance, with a focus on Ireland, with practical implications for governance in the future. This model was developed based on the analyses of case studies, including in-depth examples from the United States and Ireland. Given the understanding that transition from fossil fuels to renewables requires knowledge transfer and learning from past large-scale infrastructure development projects, and the way that stakeholders were engaged in such cases, case studies from both MRE and offshore oil and gas sectors were considered in the study. Each of the case studies illustrated different elements of marine energy governance, stakeholder analysis, policy framework analysis and literature analyses. High-level views on offshore energy developments in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Denmark were also provided. In-depth analyses found that current governance frameworks lack efficacy in terms of policy integration and enforcement, government oversight to unlock the potential of yet untapped commercial resources, and trust on the part of local communities due to past failures. The study concludes that there is a missing connection between governance and management, particularly in the domains of policy and regulation; industry development; and public engagement. The findings of this research address this gap and provide cornerstones of a practical model on how this disconnection can be avoided in the future. By weight of evidence these principles are the ‘facilitation of governance collaboration and integration’ and ‘knowledge creation’ as a result of a scientifically robust evidence base. The role of an honest broker is recommended to support ‘facilitation and knowledge creation’. In terms of theoretical contribution of this research these two principles should be added to the list of good governance principles addressed in current literature on the topic. The study harnessed an opportunity to engage with a wider range of multiple stakeholders representing various strands of governance and diverse cohorts of civil society. The extended gathering of information by means of 56 semi-structured interviews with 95 experts and stakeholders, group discussions in Ireland and the U.S. and the organisation of a national “Marine Energy Governance Workshop” are significant research contributions from this thesis

Bestimmungsfaktoren und Wirkungen von Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit : eine empirische Studie am Beispiel des Automobilhandels

Die Ergebnisse zahlreicher empirischer Studien belegen einen positiven Zusammenhang zwischen der Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit und wünschenswerten Variablen organisationalen Verhaltens. Die Mitarbeiterzufriedenheitsforschung leistet einen zentralen Beitrag zur Erklärung und Optimierung von Unternehmenseffizienz und -effektivität. Die Forschungsbemühungen sind jedoch durch eine starke Heterogenität bei der Untersuchung von Determinanten und Konsequenzen des Mitarbeiterzufriedenheitskonstruktes gekennzeichnet. Ferner enthalten die im allgemeinen branchenspezifischen Forschungsarbeiten zumeist nur eine geringe Anzahl isolierter Zielvariablen. Obgleich die Kenntnis der Kausalitäten der Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit speziell für die|Handelsorganisationen in der Automobilindustrie aufgrund sich verändernder rechtlicher Rahmenbedingungen von hoher Bedeutung ist, existiert bis dato keine Untersuchung, welche das Erkenntnisinteresse auf diese Branche fokussiert. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie liegt daher in der Identifizierung der Bestimmungsfaktoren und Konsequenzen von Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit für den Automobilhandel. Hierzu werden Zusammenhangsvermutungen zu der dem Mitarbeiterzufriedenheitskonstrukt umgebenden komplexen Dependenzstruktur theoretisch hergeleitet und|mittels eines linearen Strukturgleichungsmodells überprüft. Anhand der Ergebnisse der Untersuchung lassen sich organisationales Vertrauen sowie Unternehmensimage als einflussreiche Determinanten und organisationale Bindung sowie Mitarbeitermotivation als Konsequenz von|Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit identifizieren und damit die hervorragende Bedeutung des Konstruktes zur Steigerung des Unternehmenserfolges bestätigen. Managementimplikationen bieten Vertretern der Unternehmenspraxis zahlreiche konkrete Ansätze zum Aufbau und zur Optimierung der Zufriedenheit ihrer Mitarbeiter

Der Patentlebenszyklus: Methodische L�sungsans�tze der externen Technologieanalyse

Die Technologielebenszyklusanalyse stellt ein geeignetes Instrument f�r die Absch�tzung der Chancen und Risiken innerhalb eines Technologiefeldes und die Ermittlung der Technologieattraktivit�t dar. Durch die Operationalisierung des Technologielebenszyklus als Anzahl der Patentanmeldungen oder Patenterteilungen ber der Zeit kann das Instrumentarium patentstatistischer Analysen eine verl�ssliche Grundlage f�r die externe Technologieanalyse bilden. Die zentrale Problemstellung in der Analysepraxis ist die Abgrenzung des Technologiefeldes, die die Anwendbarkeit der Patentlebenszyklusanalyse bisher einschr�nkt. Der vorliegende Beitrag verdeutlicht am Beispiel des Herzschrittmachers, wie die Abgrenzungsprobleme des Technologiefeldes und der Lebenszyklusphasen gel�st werden k�nnen. Summary: The technology life cycle analysis is an ideal method for estimating the opportunities and threats within a technology field and for determining the attractiveness of a technology. By defining the technology life cycle as the number of patent applications or patents granted over time, the patent analysis tool provides a reliable basis for the external technology forecasting. The main issue in practical analyses is the isolation of the technology field, which limits the way in which patent life cycle analysis can be applied. By discussing the example of the cardiac pacemaker, this paper explains the manner in which a technology field can be isolated and in which the life cycle phases can be identified.Technologielebenszyklus, Patentlebenszyklus, Technologielebenszyklusanalyse, Patentlebenszyklusanalyse, Technologiefeldabgrenzung, Patentanmeldungen, Patenterteilungen

Managing stakeholder perception and engagement for marine energy transitions in a decarbonising world

There is a growing body of scholarship on the enabling conditions for energy transitions in various energy contexts globally. Transition measures need to address the concerns of communities that will host renewable energy infrastructure. Despite this, the consequences of energy transitions at the community level and in coastal environments have not received adequate attention. The case of the Corrib Gas field development in Ireland provides valuable insights into stakeholder issues surrounding strategic infrastructure developments. Material from case study work with over 70 stakeholders in a rural coastal region in Ireland's West is used to identify the cause of disputes in energy governance. The study shows that economic development is strongly linked to the cultural fabric, not just of the country, but of the locality. Here, a lack of trust of those in power had an influence on the conflict. The appointment of a mediator as an honest broker was a tipping point towards diffusion of tension and an adaptive response by all parties. The establishment of a body with a mandate to evaluate the application of ethical rules, based on good governance principles, is suggested as an option for a refined governance model. The insights are relevant for the energy transition in jurisdictions around the world. Given the urgent need for decarbonisation and the potential for marine renewable energy, lessons from the past, as documented in this paper, can help to inform better governance of common pool marine resources. This is increasingly important for the industrialisation of marine renewable energy and the need to reconcile the interests of government, industry and civil society

Governance barriers to sustainable energy transitions – Assessing Ireland's capacity towards marine energy futures

Marine energies (ME), including offshore hydcrocarbons along with marine renewable energies (MRE), such as offshore wind, wave and tidal energy, are increasingly important in the future energy mix of many nations. We observe that ME governance is complex, as development offshore involves engagement and may often result in conflict. This paper examines the Irish case, where offshore gas and oil remain relatively undeveloped, and yet have provoked extensive controversy. Moreover, Ireland exhibits very ambitious plans for MRE developments. Against a background, where ME development seems to have stalled, the objective of the paper is to analyse the Irish governance setup and its capacity to deliver ME and whether the current system is equipped to enable transition to MREs. Current governance systems lack efficacy in terms of policy integration and enforcement, government oversight, and public trust due to past failures. Although, management approaches have been developed to address some of the barriers, domains such as policy/regulation, industry development and public engagement are disconnected. Results: presented may not simply be generalised, as each country context is different. An analysis of examples with similar issues must focus on studying the context of the governance setup and balances of power across domains

Governance challenges of marine renewable energy developments in the US- creating the enabling conditions for successful project development

Increasingly, marine renewable energy developments are viewed as an opportunity to meet climate change obligations, with the added benefit of powering the economy and the creation of jobs. Technical, economic and engineering challenges co-exist with governance challenges in the development of large-scale marine renewable energy projects. This paper addresses the question, if the prerequisites for sustainable project development are evident in selected case studies. It also asks what lessons can be learned from current practice in the context of energy governance at the local level. The authors argue that these lessons can be central enablers to support decision makers in future programmes, to better understand how to build the enabling conditions for programme implementation towards renewable energy at higher spatial scales of governance, importantly the national level. The study builds on a multiple stakeholder approach involving interviews and group discussions with key individuals from industry, government and civil society in emerging pilot programmes along the East Coast of the United States (U.S.). New policy windows were opening at the time of the analysis and ambitious development was underway by a range of actors who are driving progress in the sector and positioning the area to become a major provider of blue energy

Analyse komplexer biologischer Proben mittels oberflächenverstärkter Ramanspektroskopie (SERS)

Diese Studie beschäftigt sich mit dem Nachweis biologischer Proben mit Hilfe der Raman-Mikroskopie. Um ausreichende Signalintensitäten auch bei niedrigen Konzentrationen zu erhalten, wurde insbesondere der Effekt der oberflächenverstärkten Raman-Streuung (SERS) näher untersucht. Als Proben dienten DNA aus Hering-Sperma und das Protein Albumin. Zur Verstärkung des Raman-Spektrums wurden zwei unterschiedliche Methoden verwendet. Zum Einen wurden in einem chemischen Reduktionsprozess Nanosilberpartikel hergestellt und den biologischen Proben zugemischt. Zum Anderen wurden mit Hilfe laserangeregter periodischer Oberflächenstrukturierung (LIPSS) erzeugte nanostrukturierte Silberoberflächen als Substrate für die Proben verwendet. Diese Methode wurde bislang nicht für die SERS-Analyse biologischer Proben eingesetzt. Erste hier präsentierte Messungen zeigen, dass beide Verfahren signifikante SERS-Verstärkungen liefern und potentiell leistungsstarke Methoden für die zerstörungsfreie Analyse biologischer Proben darstellen

Drought Reduces Release of Plant Matter Into Dissolved Organic Matter Potentially Restraining Ecosystem Recovery

Future climate scenarios indicate increasing drought intensity that threatens ecosystem functioning. However, the behavior of ecosystems during intense drought, such as the 2018 drought in Northern Europe, and their respective response following rewetting is not fully understood. We investigated the effect of drought on four different vegetation types in a temperate climate by analyzing dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration and composition present in soil leachate, and compared it to two accompanying years. DOM is known to play an important role in ecosystem recovery and holds information on matter flows between plants, soil microorganisms and soil organic matter. Knowledge about DOM opens the possibility to better disentangle the role of plants and microorganisms in ecosystem recovery. We found that the average annual DOM concentration significantly decreased during the 2018 drought year compared to the normal year. This suggests a stimulation of DOM release under normal conditions, which include a summer drought followed by a rewetting period. The rewetting period, which holds high DOM concentrations, was suppressed under more intense drought. Our detailed molecular analysis of DOM using ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry showed that DOM present at the beginning of the rewetting period resembles plant matter, whereas in later phases the DOM molecular composition was modified by microorganisms. We observed this pattern in all four vegetation types analyzed, although vegetation types differed in DOM concentration and composition. Our results suggest that plant matter drives ecosystem recovery and that increasing drought intensity may lower the potential for ecosystem recovery